But instead of sitting down, Niko caught sight of Jasmine from the court.
He noticed she was crying—and without a second thought, he started running toward her.
Niko came running towards Jasmine and Mia.
"Jasmine! What happened? Why are you crying?" Niko asked, a little out of breath.
"Because of you!" Mia snapped in anger.
"Because of me? What did I even do?" Niko replied, clearly confused.
"That's the point — you did do something," Mia said, her voice still sharp.
"What do you mean?" Niko asked.
"You can't just play a little better? You're losing so badly. If you have to lose, at least lose by fewer points!" Mia said, her tone full of frustration.
"Why are you getting so mad? I am trying," Niko argued.
"Trying? This is your best? If this is really your best, no team would even keep you as an extra player!" Mia shot back, still furious.
"Come on, don't talk like that," Niko said humbly.
"Don't talk like that? Because of you we had to hear so much! Do you even realize that?" Mia's voice shifted between anger and sadness.
"Because of me? How? And Jasmine — why are you crying? Tell me what happened," Niko turned to her.
"It's nothing," Jasmine said softly, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Nothing? Then why are you crying?" Niko pressed.
"It's nothing… just got some dust in my eye. That's why you think I'm upset," Jasmine replied in a low voice.
Niko sat down beside Jasmine on the bench.
"Alright, let me see your eye," he said, trying to check.
"It's not that, Niko," Mia started to say — but before she could finish, Jasmine caught her hand and subtly signaled her not to tell him the truth.
Jasmine didn't want Niko to know why she was actually crying — because if he found out, it could affect his game today. She didn't want his performance to suffer.
There was another reason too. Niko and Mia were her childhood friends, and both of them always stood by her side in tough times. Jasmine knew if Niko found out, he might go straight to Luxe and start a fight. Then Jack would get involved, and things could escalate into a full-blown brawl. Someone could get hurt — possibly Niko or Jack — and she didn't want that. Plus, if things went bad, Niko could even get kicked off the team. So she was trying hard to keep it from him.
But Niko had noticed that little signal Jasmine gave Mia, and he understood exactly what it meant.
"What was that just now? You two are hiding something from me, aren't you?" Niko asked.
Jasmine couldn't even look at him.
"Come on, Mia… isn't that the truth? Right, Jasmine? You both want me to just sit here wondering why Jasmine is crying — the same Jasmine who never cries without a reason. You want me to see her suddenly in tears and not know why? And you won't even tell me? So now I'm supposed to just keep thinking about it until my game today gets ruined? That's what you want?" Niko said, pretending to be annoyed.
Mia and Jasmine exchanged glances. Jasmine's eyes were still wet.
"If someone has been rude to you, Jasmine, just tell me right now and I'll smash his face," Niko said firmly.
Mia was ready to tell him the truth, but she stopped herself because of Jasmine.
"Guys, it's halftime, and the game is about to start again. In this mood, I can't play properly. If that's what you want — for me to play badly — then fine," Niko said, starting to walk away.
"Wait…" Jasmine called out softly.
Niko stopped, came back, and sat on the floor in front of them.
"Actually…" Jasmine began, her voice still heavy with sadness.
"Mia, you tell him," Jasmine finally said.
Mia held Jasmine's hand for support and began explaining: during the match, Jasmine had glanced at Jack. Luxe's group of girls noticed and told Luxe about it. Later, Luxe came and humiliated Jasmine badly.
By the time Mia finished telling every single thing Luxe had said about Jasmine, Mia, and even Niko's team — Niko's anger was boiling.
He looked at Jasmine and said,
"Just watch, Jasmine. I'll turn her happiness into misery. And listen — you look wherever you want to look. No one can stop you or say anything to you now."
Then he walked off towards his team.
"Did we do the right thing by telling him?" Jasmine asked Mia.
"I don't know… maybe not," Mia replied.
Niko stormed over to his team. One teammate offered him a water bottle, but Niko just tossed it towards the bench. He called all the players together, made them stand in a tight circle, and began saying something in an intense tone. Nobody could hear the exact words — until his voice suddenly roared across the court:
"Am I clear?! Say it louder — AM I CLEAR?!"
Everyone in the stadium turned to look at Team N.
"Maybe we made a mistake telling him," Mia said, her eyes fixed on Team N.
"Yeah… looks like it," Jasmine replied, also staring in the same direction.
Break time ended, and the whistle blew for the second half.
Both teams started walking back onto the court.
Niko glanced at Jasmine and Mia, and then, still burning with anger, headed toward the court.
"Jasmine…" Mia said, watching him.
"Yeah?" Jasmine replied, also looking his way.
"Do you think we made a really big mistake?" Mia asked.
"Yeah… looks like it," Jasmine answered without taking her eyes off Niko.
The whistle blew again, signaling the start of the game.
And as soon as the game began…